Charles Fenner Saunders, son of Daniel and Emily Fenner Saunders, was born at Woodville, R. I., on Jul 13, 1850, and died in Denver Co., on February 13, 1931, in the eighty-first year of his age.
Mr. Saunders grew up in Potter Hill, R. I., at the old Saunders homestead. He was bereft of his parents at the early age of four years. He learned the carpenter's trade, serving for four years as apprentice in Westerly, R. I., and was graduated from Cornell University in 1876. He tought school in New York State, read law in an office in Washington, D. C., was admitted to the bar and practiced law in South Dakota territory, where he took up the government land.
On September 3, 1889, he was married to Louise A. Canfield of Alfred, N. Y., and to his prairie home they went, living there for five years, when they returned to Potter Hill to care for the two aunts who had brought him up. In 1901, they moved to Westerly, where he was a draftsman for C. B. Cottrell and Sons.
In 1904 they established their home in Boulder, Colo., for seven years, returning to Alfred, N. Y., that their three children might have the advantage of Alfred University.
In the autumn of 1923, as their children had been graduated, and gone out into the world's work, they broke up their home in Alfred and went to Denver Colo., to live with their older daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. William M. Jeffrey. One year was spent in Redlands, Calif., with Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Hall and Dr. M. N. Canfield. Three years ago, on February 21, his beloved wife was called home.
In Early life Mr. Saunders gave his heart to God and joined the First Hopkinton Seventh Day Baptist Church in Rhode Island. During his residence in Westerly and Boulder, he connected himself with the churches of his faith in these cities. When Alfred became his home in 1911, he with his household joined the church in Alfred, where he remained a loyal member until a church was organized in Denver. Of this he became a charter member until the time of his death.
He loved life in its many phases. He was a scholar, loved travel, read and wrote much, being always the student. His sweet, gentle life was a benediction to all with whom he came in contact. He spent much time reading and studying the Bible, and his faith grew stronger as the years brought him nearer to the time when he should 'meet his Pilot face to face.'
On February 14, the funeral service was conducted in Denver by Rev. Ralph Coon of Boulder and Denver. The body was sent to Alfred where a final farewell service, conducted by Rev. Clyde Ehret, was held on Tuesday, February 17. Interment took place in the Alfred Rural Cemetery, where rests his beloved wife.
Mr. Saunders is survived by three children: Professor Paul C. Saunders of Alfred University, Mrs. Mildred F. Jeffrey of Denver, and Mrs. Mary E. Waterbury of Pleasantville, N. Y.
P. C. S.
